Go to a public area like the play area at the mall or a sporting event and watch parents and child interact. Keep a tally of all the guidance techniques you see.
Were more direct or indirect strategies used?
Were they more positive or negative?
Please check back and comment on what others have seen.
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I did my observation at my niece's friday morning music class. There are about 10 parents that go and the number of kids always vary. I notice that about 7 out of the 10 parents are direct and the others are indirect. I saw that the direct techniques were putting a positive affect on the children
ReplyDeleteI attended to a soccer game that the little girl I watch had. The ages are 8-9 and I observed that the parents used mostly direct strategies, most of the parents were very clear and specific on what they wanted the little girls to do. The limits were well specified and all the parents showed lots of support and were very warm with the girls. They also had a very positive attitude and were very encouraging.Parents also taught the girls how to be good loosers and that the game is not all about winning but also about learnig how to be a good looser and how to improve and work harder.
ReplyDeleteI sat and watched the children plat at the mall. Most of the parents just let their children run and play while they sat on their cell phones. I did see a few parents using some direct guiance when their children were misbehaving. Most of the parent told their children to go play or they were going to go home. I would view these as more negative than postive. The parents seemed like they needed a break from their children and they were glad they were playing.
ReplyDeleteI did my observation at the food court in the mall. A good majority of the parents used direct guidance strategies. However, most of the time they were negative. It was Saturday afternoon, and most of the parents seemed to have a short fuse with their children. It is interesting to see how parents interact with their children when they think nobody is looking. Typically they were doing something negative, such as forcefully telling the child to sit down or even spanking.
ReplyDeleteI observation at the mail play area. There was mostly positive and as well on the direct straegies. There not much of bad behavior going on. I notice they gave the child limits on how long that can play and then they had to go. That what have observed.
ReplyDeleteI was at work when I was observing families for this project. I work at an indoor inflatable bounce house facility. Both children and adults are allowed to play. I noticed that some families woulduse direct strategies with thier child, and they were the families that were not playing with the children. Then there were the families that were all getting on the bounce houses playing together. They seemed to be using a more indirect approach of guidance. They let the child choose which bounce house they would get on next and thee parent would follow enjoying almost every bit of it. I see both of these cinarios all the time when im at work and for the children whose parents do not play seem to be more strict on their rules to who and how another person can play with them.
ReplyDeleteI did my observation at my nephews birthday party. There were six children there. All of the parents there used direct strategies. An example of the use of direct strategies include when two of the children wanted the same ball. One of the parents stepped in and suggested that Child B play with bicycle until Child A is finished with the ball. Therfore, a substitution was made and both children were happy. These strategies all benefitted the children positively. On the other hand I have noticed parents at local retail stores using indirect strategies, these strategies have had a negative impact on the children.
ReplyDeleteI did my observation at the play area at the mall. There was about 7 kids. the parents used direct strategies but just one used indirect straegies. only a few, maybe 3 were positive. most parents would just tell their child either they played good or were going to have to go home, and the tome of their voice did not help. it was in a negative tone whic just affected the chid in a negative way. one child when his mother told him they were going home since he was not playing good, got so mad he kicked his mother and threw a fit. the mother simply rasied her voice at him and picked him up and left.
ReplyDeleteI observed at my six year old son's football game. Most parents were direct strategies. They tell their children exactly what they want them to do and what the expectations are. They are very specific and positive. And, during they game their is always positive reinforcement.
ReplyDeleteI decided to do my observation at Grapevine Mills Mall, on a typically Saturday. The mall was very crowded and busy. I notice about 2 set of parents who used very direct and indirect. One child was crying very loud and ran away from the parents. The parents took control of the issue, and explain to their child that their behavior was not acceptable. The other parents were indirect. The other child was a little boy, who looks around 6 or 7 years old. He was crying because he wanted to go into the Disney store. The parents ignore him the whole time.
ReplyDeleteI decided to do my observation at a large public outdoor event. Most families were very direct with what their expectations were of the children. The majority were positive, but there are always exceptions. probably about 90% were positive, while the other 10% were either negative or completely indifferent.
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